A thermal management system for a fuel cell stack based on low temperature cold start technology
By integrating an adaptive thermal management system with an insulation cover, cooling fan, and deflector plate onto the fuel cell stack, the problem of difficult low-temperature start-up was solved, enabling low-temperature cold start-up without the need for an auxiliary heat source, thus improving system efficiency and stability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NANTONG BAIYING ENERGY
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-04
AI Technical Summary
Traditional fuel cell stacks are difficult to start up in low-temperature environments, requiring auxiliary heat sources, and existing thermal management systems lack adaptive capabilities, leading to unstable performance and increased system complexity.
The thermal management system, consisting of an insulation cover, a cooling fan, a baffle plate, and a temperature sensor, forms an adaptive thermal management closed loop through the opening and closing control of the baffle plate and temperature feedback, enabling low-temperature cold start without the need for an auxiliary heat source.
It enables startup without an auxiliary heat source in low-temperature environments, improves the system's energy utilization efficiency and stack performance stability, and broadens the application range.
Smart Images
Figure CN224595506U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fuel cell stack technology, specifically a thermal management system for a fuel cell stack based on low-temperature cold start technology. Background Technology
[0002] In fuel cell applications, cold start-up in low-temperature environments is a critical challenge. Traditional fuel cell stacks struggle to start up at low temperatures (e.g., -30°C), often requiring an external auxiliary heat source to raise the stack temperature to the operating range. This not only increases system complexity and cost but also reduces energy efficiency. Furthermore, existing thermal management systems lack adaptive capabilities when regulating stack temperature, making it difficult to adjust quickly and accurately based on the stack's actual operating conditions and temperature changes. This leads to unstable stack performance, impacting the reliability and durability of the fuel cell system. Therefore, developing a low-temperature cold start technology that requires no auxiliary heat source and possesses adaptive thermal management capabilities is of significant practical importance. Utility Model Content
[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a thermal management system for a fuel cell stack based on low-temperature cold start technology, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.
[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:
[0005] A thermal management system for a fuel cell stack based on low-temperature cold start technology is disclosed. The system comprises an insulation cover, a fuel cell stack, a cooling fan, a deflector plate, a temperature sensor, and a deflector plate status control component. The fuel cell stack is enclosed by the insulation cover. A cooling fan is connected to the right side of the fuel cell stack, and a deflector plate is installed to the right of the cooling fan. The deflector plate is mounted on the insulation cover surrounding the fuel cell stack. The temperature sensor monitors the temperature inside the fuel cell stack and the insulation cover in real time. The deflector plate status control component controls the power density of the fuel cell stack and the opening and closing of the deflector plate based on the information fed back from the temperature sensor.
[0006] Preferably, when the deflector is closed, external air naturally enters the shroud to form an airflow.
[0007] Preferably, the guide vane is mounted on a cover surrounding the fuel cell stack.
[0008] Preferably, the temperature sensor is used to monitor the temperature of the fuel cell stack and the insulation cover in real time.
[0009] Preferably, the closed guide plate can maintain a relative humidity of 60-100% for the cathode airflow.
[0010] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: The thermal management system of the fuel cell stack based on low-temperature cold start technology of the present invention:
[0011] 1. No auxiliary heat source required: The low-temperature cold start technology of this invention eliminates the dependence on auxiliary heat sources, reduces system costs and complexity, and improves energy utilization efficiency.
[0012] 2. Adaptive thermal management: By triggering power density conversion through heat accumulation and full-open cooling of the guide vanes through temperature threshold, an adaptive thermal management closed loop is formed, which can quickly and accurately adjust the stack temperature and improve the performance stability and reliability of the stack.
[0013] 3. Wide temperature range applicability: This technology can start up in low-temperature environments such as -30℃ and effectively adjust the stack temperature under different operating conditions, thus broadening the application range of fuel cells. Attached Figure Description
[0014] Other features, objects, and advantages of this application will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings:
[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the thermal management system of the fuel cell stack based on low-temperature cold start technology of this utility model;
[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the thermal management system of the fuel cell stack based on low-temperature cold start technology of this utility model;
[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the guide plate of this utility model in the open state;
[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the closed state structure of the guide plate of this utility model;
[0019] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the fuel cell stack structure of this utility model.
[0020] In the diagram: 1-Insulation cover, 2-Fuel cell stack, 3-Cooling fan, 4-Blower plate, 5-Temperature sensor, 6-Blower plate status control component. Detailed Implementation
[0021] The present application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It is to be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the utility model. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the utility model are shown in the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments of the present utility model, the different types of cross-sectional lines are not labeled according to national standards, nor do they specify material requirements for the components; they are used to distinguish the cross-sectional views of the components in the drawings.
[0022] Please see Figure 1-5 A thermal management system for a fuel cell stack based on low-temperature cold start technology is disclosed. The system comprises an insulation cover 1, a fuel cell stack 2, a cooling fan 3, a flow deflector 4, a temperature sensor 5, and a flow deflector status control component 6. The fuel cell stack 2 is enclosed by the insulation cover 1. The cooling fan 3 is connected to the right side of the fuel cell stack 2, and the flow deflector 4 is installed on the right side of the cooling fan 3. The flow deflector 4 is mounted on the insulation cover 1 surrounding the fuel cell stack 2. The temperature sensor 5 is used to monitor the temperature inside the fuel cell stack 2 and the insulation cover 1 in real time. The flow deflector status control component 6 controls the power density of the fuel cell stack 2 and the opening and closing of the flow deflector 4 based on the information fed back from the temperature sensor 5.
[0023] When the deflector 4 is closed, external air naturally enters the shroud to form an airflow.
[0024] Among them, the guide plate 4 is installed on the cover around the fuel cell stack 2.
[0025] Among them, temperature sensor 5 is used to monitor the temperature of fuel cell stack 2 and insulation cover 1 in real time.
[0026] Among them, the closed guide plate 4 can maintain the relative humidity of the cathode airflow at 60-100%.
[0027] It should be noted that the thermal management system of the fuel cell stack based on low-temperature cold start technology consists of the following components: the fuel cell stack low-temperature cold start system of the present invention mainly consists of the fuel cell stack 2, the guide plate 4, the temperature sensor 5, and the guide plate status control component 6.
[0028] The deflector plate 4 is installed on the cover around the fuel cell stack 2. The temperature sensor 5 is used to monitor the temperature inside the fuel cell stack 2 and the insulation cover 1 in real time. The deflector plate status control component 6 controls the power density of the fuel cell stack 2 and the opening and closing of the deflector plate 4 based on the information fed back by the temperature sensor 5.
[0029] Cold start process:
[0030] 1. Low-power start-up phase: In a low-temperature environment, the fuel cell stack 2 starts up and enters a low-power density operating state. At this time, the guide plate 4 is in a closed state, and the heat generated by the fuel cell stack 2 gradually accumulates inside the insulation cover 1, and the temperature inside the cover begins to rise.
[0031] 2. Power density conversion stage: When the temperature sensor 5 detects that the temperature of the insulation cover 1 has reached the predetermined conversion threshold, the flow guide plate status control component 6 issues a command to convert the power density of the fuel cell stack 2 from low power to high power in order to meet higher performance requirements.
[0032] 3. Heat dissipation stage: As the power density of the fuel cell stack 2 increases, the heat generated by the fuel cell stack 2 also increases accordingly. When the temperature sensor 5 detects that the temperature of the fuel cell stack 2 is higher than the specified heat dissipation threshold, the guide plate status control component 6 controls the guide plates 4 to fully open, dissipating excess heat and reducing the temperature of the fuel cell stack 2 to a suitable operating range.
[0033] 4. Adaptive adjustment: During the operation of the fuel cell stack 2, the guide plate status control component 6 continuously adjusts the power density of the fuel cell stack 2 and the opening and closing state of the guide plate 4 in real time based on the information fed back by the temperature sensor 5, forming an adaptive thermal management closed loop to ensure that the stack always operates in a stable temperature environment.
[0034] The contents not described in detail in this specification are existing technologies known to those skilled in the art.
[0035] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and an explanation of the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of the utility model involved in this application is not limited to the technical solutions formed by specific combinations of the above-described technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by arbitrary combinations of the above-described technical features or their equivalents without departing from the inventive concept. For example, technical solutions formed by substituting the above features with (but not limited to) technical features with similar functions disclosed in this application.
Claims
1. A thermal management system for a fuel cell stack based on low-temperature cold start technology, characterized in that: The thermal management system of the fuel cell stack consists of an insulation cover (1), a fuel cell stack (2), a cooling fan (3), a guide plate (4), a temperature sensor (5), and a guide plate status control component (6). The fuel cell stack (2) is enclosed by the insulation cover (1). The cooling fan (3) is connected to the right side of the fuel cell stack (2), and a guide plate (4) is installed on the right side of the cooling fan (3). The guide plate (4) is installed on the insulation cover (1) around the fuel cell stack (2). The temperature sensor (5) is used to monitor the temperature inside the fuel cell stack (2) and the insulation cover (1) in real time. The guide plate status control component (6) controls the power density of the fuel cell stack (2) and the opening and closing of the guide plate (4) based on the information fed back by the temperature sensor (5).
2. The thermal management system for a fuel cell stack based on low-temperature cold start technology according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the guide plate (4) is closed, external air naturally enters the cover to form an airflow.
3. The thermal management system for a fuel cell stack based on low-temperature cold start technology according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide plate (4) is installed on the cover around the fuel cell stack (2).
4. The thermal management system for a fuel cell stack based on low-temperature cold start technology according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature sensor (5) is used to monitor the temperature of the fuel cell stack (2) and the insulation cover (1) in real time.
5. A thermal management system for a fuel cell stack based on low-temperature cold start technology according to claim 1, characterized in that: The closed guide plate (4) can maintain the relative humidity of the cathode airflow at 60-100%.